NFL All-Rookie Squad: My Picks

These are my picks for the All-Rookie Team in the NFL

QB: Matt Ryan ATL...2,940...14 TDs...7 INTs...92 rating...one of the greatest rookie QBs ever, with no disrespect to Joe Flacco
RB: Chris Johnson TEN...1,094 yards rushing...9 total TDs...4.9 ypc..."Dash" has been the best of a strong rookie RB class featuring Matt Forte, Steve Slaton and Kevin Smith
FB: Owen Schmitt SEA...for lack of better candidate
WR: Eddie Royal DEN...69 rec...799 yards...5 TDs...Has been an excellent compliment to Brandon Marshall...on pace for highest rookie reception total since Anquan Boldin in 2003
WR: DeSean Jackson PHI...53 rec...775 yards...4 total TDs...Instantly Philly's most versatile go-to-guy, Donnie Avery and Devone Bess (MIA) get honorable mention
TE: John Carlson SEA...46 rec...525 yards...4 TDs...Dustin Keller has been great, but he also has other receivers to open up the seam and underneath routes...Carlson not so much...
OT: Ryan Clady DEN...Jay Cutler has been sacked 7 times all year, last year the total was 27...Clady has been exceptional
OT: Jake Long MIA...Solid rookie year, sack total for Dolphins is down from 42 to 24 this season...Duane Brown has been a mauler for Houston, while Jeff Otah has excelled in Carolina
OG: Carl Nicks NO...5th rounder won starting job after Jamar Nesbit got hurt, but played well enough to keep it even when Nesbit came back
OG: Mike Pollack IND...Injuries kept him out early in the year, but has started every game since, playing solidly replacing departed Jake Scott
C: Jamey Richard IND...Has replaced Jeff Saturday admirably, but also has logged starts at both guard spots on depleted Indianapolis offensive line.

DE: Chris Long STL...A weak year for rookie defensive linemen, Long leads all rookie DEs with 35 tackles and 4 sacks, although Rams' pass rush hasn't improved
DE: Cliff Avril DET...Situational pass rusher has amassed 4 sacks and 3 forced fumbles with one recovery...one of very few bright spots for Detroit
DT: Glenn Dorsey KC...Has had a really quiet rookie year, but amazingly nobody has been better...he leads all rookie defensive linemen with 36 tackles
DT: Sedrick Ellis NO...Has been unspectacular, but still has 10 starts with 23 tackles and 2 sacks...Eric Foster has been decent in Indianapolis, also
LB: Jerod Mayo NE...Injury plagued LB position has been manned solidly by Mayo who leads team and all rookies 107 tackles.
LB: Curtis Lofton ATL...Lofton has bright future following strong rookie season starting at MLB for Falcons
LB: Wesley Woodyard DEN...In 5 games starting for injured D.J. Williams, Woodyard has logged 8.6 tackles per game
CB: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie ARI...Has started all but one game since Week 5 and has 3 picks and 18 pass breakups...Aqib Talib has been a very good Nickel Corner for Tampa
CB: Brandon Carr KC...Has been a starter since Week one and the #1 CB since Week 3, logging 8 PBs and 3 INTs...Brandon Flowers has played well covering #2 WRs
FS: Charles Godfrey CAR...has started every game for 8th ranked defense (ppg against)
SS: Chris Horton WAS...Leads rookie DBs in both tackles and INTs...has made numerous big plays, especially early in the year

K: Dan Carpenter MIA...19/22 overall...9/12 from 40+ yards
P: Brett Kern DEN...46.8 yards per punt, 37.8 net
KR: Leodis McElvin BUF...leads NFL in KR average and has 6 KRs longer than 40 yards with 1 TD
PR: Clifton Smith TB...Suddenly Tampa has a great return game...leads NFL in PR average and has 2 40+ yards returns with one TD